Appropriate for sophomore or junior level courses, this highly acclaimed text focuses on developing the abstract thinking essential for further mathematical study. Andrilli and Hecker give early, intensive attention to the skills necessary to make students comfortable with mathematical proof. The text builds a gradual and smooth transition from computational results to the general theory of vector spaces. It also provides flexible coverage of practical applications, exploring a comprehensive range of topics.
* A unique section (1.3) is devoted exclusively to the techniques involved in reading and writing short algebraic proofs.
* An illustrative example is included for most theorems.
* Over 750 exercises, with over 1750 questions, range from the purely computational to the writing of proofs.
* Early introduction to eigenvalues and eignvectors.
* A special section (4.6) illustrates several techniques for constructing bases.
* An exclusive chapter of applications offers flexible coverage. |